Wow, how a month flies.  Well it has been nearly a month since HPT hosted IMBA's International Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day.  The day happened to correspond with a Trek and Gary Fisher Demo Day so I figured why not add a little more to the mix and have a pump track clinic as well.

As Saturday morning rolled around we had plenty of gift bags, plenty of temporary teeter totters on loan from the gang at BlueDog Cycles/Vernon Trails, plenty of sunshine, and plenty of volunteers...we just needed some kids to show up.  In due time they came, but not in the droves we could have handled.  We got several group rides rolling as well as some pump track practice and some daring teeter totter sessions.  In the end the kids got tons of attention with a near 1:1 volunteer ratio.  Thank you to all the volunteers (HPT, UWL trekking club, and otherwise) and to the families that came up to celebrate with us.

The Trek trailer, on the other hand, had no shortage of participants.  Every time I looked up, I saw a rider on a shiny new bike.  Plenty of smiles to be had by all the riders.  I even heard a couple of diehard hardtailers mention that they forgot how fun a full sus can be.

As the kiddies went home to mommy, the big boys and girls came out to play on the pump track (yeah right, most adults could stand to learn a thing or two about blind faith in your riding skills from the little groms).  We had a decent turnout for the clinic with about 7-8 riders following from the track to the trail.  We hit up sections of Twister, Quarry Trail, and French Connection.  I think everyone came out with a little more skill and a lot more confidence.  We even learned the secret to riding those tight switchbacks when the leaves are wet. 

During a post ride gathering at the Alpine Inn, I got a call from some riders coming into town from the Twin Cities.  I headed right back to the trail head for a trail ride, pump track photo session, post-dusk bear search, and finished it all off under the lights at the skatepark.  I had a tough time riding home from the park due to some severe quad cramping.  Guess that means it was a good day.

JED

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